A Blog for Parents

16 Tips for a Super-Safe Halloween

Halloween is right around the corner. With this year’s unexpected weather, it’s going to be very important to take extra steps to be safe on the streets this Halloween season. We want to help parents and children have a super-safe Halloween.

Here are 16 tips to be safe while your child celebrates Halloween this season:

You can have fun and be safe with these 16 Halloween Safety Tips:

Buying a Costume

Avoid dark colors. The darker the costume, the more difficult it is for drivers to see you at night. If your costume is on the darker side, try purchasing neon reflective tape fromHome Depot or Lowes. The tape is fun, and can be a great alternative if your child really wants to wear a darker costume.

Be careful of costumes with masks. Bulky masks make it difficult for children to see their surroundings. The more your child’s vision is impaired, the more difficult it is going to be to see cars and dangerous obstacles. A great alternative to masks is using face paint, which can be found on the costume aisle at most stores.

Avoid long, flowing costumes. Your child should avoid costumes that go past their ankles. Longer costumes can cause your child to trip and get injured. Other trick or treaters could step on your child’s costumes causing it to rip or get damaged. It is best to find a costume that avoids such occurrences.

Elaborate costumes might not be the best for a long night of trick or treating. Most kids shed their costumes within the first 10 minutes of trick or treating. Having costumes with many pieces could slow or distract your child. If your child is worrying about carrying his costume, he or she might not be paying attention to their surroundings.

Buy a costume that is flame resistant. Most costumes made today are flame resistant, but you always want to check the tag on the costume. With many houses having a jack-o-lantern on the front porch, you need to be careful your child does not accidentally set their costume on fire.

Wear layers this Halloween season. The temperatures are supposed to be colder on Tuesday. Also think about bringing a raincoator jacket for extra protection against the elements. Better to be healthy than ruin the perfect costume this year.

Walking at Night

Make sure to follow all the rules for crossing the street. Use crosswalks and make sure to cross the street at corners. The roads can be very busy on Halloween night. Be aware of oncoming traffic and always follow the rules.

Don’t text (or SnapChat) and walk. People get very distracted when they’re on their cell phones. Try to avoid talking or texting on your phone when you are out trick or treating. The more aware you are of your surroundings, the more safe you are going to be going from house to house on Halloween night.

Walk on the sidewalk when all possible. It is not a good idea to walk in the street while trick or treating. If there is a sidewalk in your neighborhood, use it. The best way to avoid cars is to stay off the streets.

Carry a flashlight. Not only does the light warn drivers and other pedestrians, but also a flashlight can help you see the path ahead of you. Many yards are full of decorations on Halloween, so make sure you can see the path clearly. Shine your light to guide your way.

It is best to stay in neighborhoods you’re familiar with. Not only will your know the terrain, but you will also be familiar with homes you can go to if there is an emergency.

Avoid walking in alleys and in between houses. Alleys can be very dark at night. Cars and other vehicles traveling in alleys have trouble seeing objects and people. It is best to avoid alleys at all costs.

An adult should always accompany younger children. Not only does it make children feel more comfortable, it is another set of eyes and ears to be safe. Having an adult presence is also a deterrent of strangers who might want o cause harm to small children.

After You’re Done Trick or Treating

Always have an adult check a child’s bag before they eat their candy. Although treat tampering is rare, it is always a good idea to inspect your candy. Avoid open candy and treats with a loose wrapper.

Remind a child of their food allergies. Candy with peanut butter is a popular treat during the Halloween season. Children with food allergies should be reminded to read the candy before they eat it. An adult should always inspect Candy that is unfamiliar to the child.

Don’t let your child eat all their candy in one night.Try to ration your child’s candy. Remind them that eating too much will make them sick. They will also not have any candy the next day to enjoy.

The main thing to remember on Halloween is that you can have fun and be safe at the same time. Follow the above tips to have a more enjoyable trick or treating experience.